Armored cable cutter



Jan. 10, 1950 c. D. BELDEN 2,493,941

ARMORED CABLE CUTTER Filed Nov. 1. 1948 Patented Jan. 10, 195'!) UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ARMOBED CABLE CUTTER Clark D. Belden, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application-November 1, 1948, Serial No. 57,680

11 Claims. 1,-

My invention relates generally to cutting tools and, more specifically, to a tool for cutting the armor or casing of armored cable such as BX or Greenfield cable.

An important object of"my invention is the provision, in a tool as set forth, of cable-gripping jaw inserts which are-quickly and easily re-movable from the tool'so as to .permit replacement; thereof by other jaw. inserts adapted'to securely grip cables of different diameters. j

Another object of my invention is the provision of an armored cable-cutting tool in which a cut ting blade is disposed so as to sever at least one convolution of 'helically-wound: armor. withoutdanger of cutting into the electric conduit carried therein.

Still another object .or'niyxinvention is the provision of means for retaining the :manually-. operated cutting blade handle of'my device closely adjacent and parallel to the other handles there-- of, whereby to form atcornpact structurefor storage and shipping.

A still further object oi'my invention is the provision of a cutting tool as set forth which is inexpensive to build, simple to operate, rugged in construction, and durable in use. a

Other highly important objects and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed" specification, appended claims, and attached drawings. .z-

Referring to the drawings, in :which like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views: z 1

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of my improved cutting tool in an open position, some parts being removed-and some parts broken away;

' Fig. 2- is a fragmentary view corresponding to Fig. 1 but having removable gripping jaw inserts applied thereto; a

Fig. 3 is an'enlarged detail in section taken on; the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan illustrating the use of my cable-. cutting tool, some parts being broken away; and N Fig. 5 is a view partly in section and partly in end elevation taken substantially on the line 55 of Fig. 4. 1

My improved armored cable-cutting tool resembles a pair of pliers, and comprises a pair of gripping elements or jaws l and 2 which are pivotally securedto each other by a pintle or pivot pin 3. Extending outwardly from the gripping jaws l and 2 are handle portions 4 and- 5respectively. Said handle portions 4 and 5 project. at an oblique angle tothe axis of. the.

;' tween, see' particular1y- Figs.-4- and 5.-

armored cable A shown in the'd-rawings may.-

lationship when the gripping jaws l and 2 are in a position to embrace a portion of armored cable. Each of the gripping jaws land 2 isprovided with a recess 6 that extends parallel to the axis of the pivotpin 3, and which is adapted to receive a gripping jaw insert 1. The jaw in-.- serts l fit snugly in the recesses 6 and are provided at both ends with outwardly-projecting lugs- 8 which fit corresponding channels 9'in the gripping jaws l and 2: t0 prevent movement of. the inserts in a' direction'parallel-to the axis of the pivot pin 3. The inner or opposing surfaces. of the lugs 8 are provided with recesses or cavities l6 that receivespring-pressedball detents H when the jaw inserts "l are seated in the recesses 6. As'shown in Figs. 1 and-3, the detents.

II project outwardly from. thegripping jaws. I and 2 into the channels 9. Engagement of the detents "l l with the cavities ll) of the jaw insertsprevents accidental removal ofsthe jaw inserts. from the gripping jaws I. and 2., The jaw in.- serts I are each formed-to 'providechannels 12,. which, when the inserts l are contained in the gripping jaws land 2, extend parallel tothe axis of the pivot pin 3. The channels 12 are formed with teeth or ribs it which formsectionsl of a helix; The ribs l3 and spacing therebetween are of a size to fit theconvolutions of spirallya wound armored cablessuch as BX; When the gripping jaws 'I andi2 are closed as indicated in.

Figs. 4 and 5, the channels-t2 frictionally gripdiametricallyeopposite sides of the armored cable indicated by the letter 'A', which anchors the sameagainst axial and rotating movements therebe not shown. vSuch'oth'er inserts maybe assumed.

to be similar-tdthe inserts 1 except that the channels I2 will be wider and deeper to -accoma modate such larger diameter cablee A cutting blade 14 is pivotally-secured adjacent its inner end to the gripping-jaw l by means.

of a nut-equipped shoulder bolt' or. the like l5.-

The'opposite gripping jaw 2 i xprovided witha recess IE to receive. the'head'of the bolt I5 when the gripping. jaws I and *Z-are closed, see -par;-. ticularly Figs; 1,.2, and 5,. -,The cutting blade i4 is p ed I-i mmrnnQ-W h an a cuate u n e e ;wh u n ivotaL-moreinentspivot pin 3 and lie s ypaced pa l re u it bladgli, edaeteclztqmc aintoiaiidzoutr of cutting engagement with the armored cable A held between the gripping jaws. The blade [4 extends laterally outwardly from the pivot bolt l5 and terminates in a handle lever l8 adapted to be gripped by one of the operators hands at the same time as the handle portions l and 5 are held in the operators other hand. While thus held, the blade l4 may be moved from its dotted line position of Fig. 4 to the full line position thereof, thereby causing the arcuate cutting edge I! of the blade H! to sever at least one convolution of the armor of the cable A. It will be seen by reference to Fig. 5 that the cutting edge ll penetrates the armor of the cable A but does not extend to any appreciable distance inwardly thereof. Injury to the insulation or wires which may be contained therein is thusprevented. When the tool is used to cut cable of larger diameter, such as Greenfield cable, the cutting blade will penetrate a greater distance into the interior of the cable. However, in most instances, the larger diameter Greenfield cable is wired subsequent to its being cut, so that no damage occurs to the wires therein. It will be noted that the axis of the pivot bolt I5 is perpendicular to the axis of the pivot pin 3, so that movement of the cutting edge ll of blade I4 is in a plane parallel to the axis of the cable A.

I provide stop means limiting movements of the cutting blade l4 and. handle lever is thereof in one direction in the nature of a pin or boss I!) extending transversely outwardly of the handle portion 5. During cutting movements of the blade I4 with respect to the handles 4 and 5, one side edge of the blade I will abut the boss I9 to limit movement of the blade l4 toward the handles 4 and 5. The blade [4 is provided with an aperture 20 which is equidistant from the pivot bolt I5 and the boss Hi. When the tool is in its open position as in Figs. 1 and 2, the blade l4 may be moved about the axis of the pivot bolt 5 to a position adjacent and parallel to the handle 4. When the tool is then closed, the boss l9 will be received within the aperture 20 and the blade M will be prevented against pivotal movements in either direction and the tool will be disposed in a compact form for storage or shipment. During a cable armor-cutting operation, engagement of the adjacent side edge of the blade It with the boss l9 prevents the operators hands from striking one another and being bruised or otherwise injured. When a out has been made from one edge of the convolution to the other thereof, the cutting tool is then removed from the cable and as much of the cable may then be unwound as desired.

My invention has been thoroughly tested and found to be entirely adequate for the accomplishment of the objectives setforth,and while I have shown and described a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that the same is capable of modification without departure from the scope and spirit of the invention as defined in the claims.

What I claim is:

l. A tool for cutting armored cable comprising a pair of pivotally-connected armored cablegripping jaws, handle portions extending outwardly of said gripping jaws and adapted to lie in closely spaced parallel relationship one with the other when said gripping jaws are closed about said armored cable, a cutting blade pivoted to one of said handles" on an axis perpendicular to the pivot axis of said gripping jaws, and a handle lever on said cuttingblade, saidhandle lever ex'-' tending radially outwardly of the pivot axis of said blade, the cutting edge of said blade being adapted to move into and out of cutting engagement with said armored cable upon pivotal movements of said handle lever and blade in opposite directions.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 in further combination with stop means limiting pivotal movements of said cutting blade in one direction.

3. A tool for cutting armored cable comprising a pair of pivotally-conn'ected' armored cablegripping jaws, handle members extending outwardly of said gripping jaws at an oblique angle to the pivot axis of said jaws and adapted to be disposed in closely spaced parallel relationship when said gripping jaws are closed about said armored cable, a cutting blade pivoted to one of said handles on an axis perpendicular to the pivot axis of said gripping jaws, and a handle lever on said cutting blade, said handle lever extending radially outwardly of the pivot axis of the said blade, said cutting blade having an arcuate cutting edge adapted to move into and out of cutting engagement with said armored cable upon pivotal movements of said handle lever and blade in opposite directions.

4. A tool for cutting armored cable comprising a pair of pivotally-connected armored cablegripping jaws, said jaws having complementary channels parallel to the axis of said pivotal connection and adapted to embrace diametrically opposite sides of said cable when said gripping jaws are closed, handle portions extending outwardly of said gripping jaws at an oblique angle to the pivot axis of said jaws and adapted to be disposed in closely spaced parallel relationship when said gripping jaws are closed about said armored cable; a cutting blade pivoted to one of said handles on an axis perpendicular to the pivot axis of said gripping jaws, a handle lever on said cutting blade, said handle lever extending radially outwardly of the pivot axis of said blade, said cutting blade having an arcuate cutting edge adapted to move into and out of cutting engagement with said armored cable upon pivotal movements of said handle lever and blade in opposite directions, and stop means limiting pivotal movements of said handle lever and blade in one direction.

5. The structure defined in claim 4 in which said stop means comprises a boss on one of said handles, said boss extending in the direction of the other of said handles and said cutting blade when said gripping jaws are closed about said armored cable, and in which said handle lever is provided with an aperture adapted to receive said boss when said handle lever is aligned with its cooperating handle member.

6. A tool for cutting armored cable comprising a pair of pivotally-connected gripping jaws having recesses therein, armored cable-gripping jaw inserts seated inv said recesses and removable therefrom, handle portions extending outwardly of said gripping members and adapted to lie in closely spaced parallel relationship when said gripping jaws are closed about said armored cable, a cuttingblade pivoted to one of said handles on an axis perpendicular to the pivot axis of said gripping jaws, and a handle lever on said cutting blade, said handle lever extending radially outwardly' of the pivot axis of said blade, the cutting edge of said blade being adapted to move into and out of cutting engagement with said armored. cable uponv pivotal movements of said handle lever and blade in opposite directions.

7. The structure defined in claim 6 in further combination with stop means limiting pivotal movements of said cutting blade in one direction.

8. A tool for cutting armored cable comprising a pair of pivotally-connected gripping jaws having recesses therein, armored cable-gripping jaw inserts seated in said recesses and removable therefrom, handle portions extending outwardly of said gripping jaws at an oblique angle to the pivot axis of said jaws and adapted to be disposed in closely spaced parallel relationship when said gripping jaws are closed about said armored cable, a cutting blade pivoted to one of said handles on an axis perpendicular to the pivot axis of said gripping jaws, and a handle lever on said cutting blade, said handle lever extending radially outwardly of said blade, said blade having an arcuate cutting edge adapted to move into and out of cutting engagement with said armored cable upon pivotal movements of said handle lever and blade in opposite directions.

9. A tool for cutting armored cable comprising a pair of pivotally-connected gripping jaws having recesses therein, armored cable-gripping jaw inserts seated in said recesses and removable therefrom, said gripping jaws having complementary channels parallel to the axis of said pivotal connection and adapted to embrace diametrically opposite sides of said cable when said gripping jaws are closed, handle portions extending outwardly of said gripping jaws at an oblique angle to the pivot axis of said jaws and adapted to be disposed in closely spaced parallel relationship when said gripping jaw inserts are closed about said. armored cable, a cutting blade pivoted to one of said handles on an axis perpendicular to the pivot axis of said gripping jaws, a handle lever on said cutting blade, said handle lever extending radially outwardly of the pivot axis of said blade, said blade having an arcuate cutting edge adapted to move into and out of cutting engagement with said armored cable upon pivotal movements of said handle lever and blade in opposite directions, and stop means limiting pivotal movements of said handle lever and blade in one direction.

10. The structure defined in claim 9 in which said stop means comprises a boss on the other of said handles, said boss extending in the direction of the other of said handles and said cutting blade when said gripping jaws are closed about said armored cable and in which said handle lever is provided with an aperture adapted to receive said boss when said handle lever is aligned with its cooperating handle member.

11. A tool for cutting armored cable comprising a pair of pivotally-connected gripping jaws having recesses therein, armored cable-gripping jaw inserts seated in said recesses and removable therefrom, said gripping jaw inserts having complementary channels parallel to the axis of said pivotal connection and adapted to embrace diametrically opposite sides of said cable When said gripping jaws are closed, means for preventing movements of said jaw inserts with respect to said gripping jaws axially of said pivot, detent means associated with said jaw inserts and said gripping jaws for preventing accidental removal of said jaw inserts, handle portions extending outwardly of said gripping jaws and adapted to lie in closely spaced parallel relationship when said jaw inserts are closed about said armored cable, a cutting blade pivoted to one of said handles on an axis perpendicular to the pivot axis of said gripping jaws, and a handle lever on said cutting blade, said handle lever extending radially outwardly of the pivot axis of said blade, the cutting edge of said blade being adapted to move into and out of cutting engagement with said armored cable upon pivotal movements of said handle lever and blade in opposite directions.

CLARK D. BELDEN.

No references cited. 

